20 May 2025, Bangkok – Following the election of the Philippines as President of the week-long 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) which began yesterday in Geneva, global health advocates intensified their call to protect the integrity of the WHA, the World Health Organization’s principal decision-making body, which plays a central role in shaping global health agendas and policies.
The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) and Corporate Accountability emphasized that good governance in the WHA requires an unwavering dedication to public health principles and complete independence from industries that profit from unhealthy products, such as tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy food and beverages, fossil fuel, and the like.
Last month, 65 national, regional, and global non-governmental tobacco control and public health organizations from all WHO regions had petitioned WHO Member States to rescind the Philippines’ nomination as WHA President. The health advocates had questioned the Philippines’ suitability to uphold the integrity and principles of the WHO and the WHA after its government’s acceptance and endorsement of multiple donations from Philip Morris International (PMI) and its local affiliate.
In March 2025 at a formal ceremony in Malacañang Palace, Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian applauded PMI executives, who turned over four mobile clinics to the government. This was not an isolated incident; months prior, the same officials accepted a similar donation from the same tobacco company in violation of the country’s obligations under Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and its own Civil Service Commission – Department of Health Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01, to shield public health policies from tobacco industry interference and influence.
The WHO FCTC Article 5.3 implementing guidelines highlight the inherent conflict between tobacco industry interests and public health. Furthermore, in WHA Resolution 54.18, WHO Member States were urged “to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts, and to be vigilant in efforts to counteract industry influence.” The WHO has consistently warned against the deceptive nature of tobacco industry corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, noting that such donations are a tactic to whitewash the industry’s harmfulness and gain access to policymakers.
“The Philippine government is aware that tobacco use claims the lives of over 110,000 Filipinos and 8 million people globally each year. Public servants mandated to protect citizens from death and disease should understand the imperative of avoiding unnecessary interactions with the tobacco industry. Partnering with the tobacco industry or any health-harming industry imperils countless lives,” noted Dr Ulysses Dorotheo, Executive Director of SEATCA.
“Given the Philippine government’s close ties to the tobacco industry, the Philippines’ WHA presidency establishes a dangerous precedent for commercial determinants of health to influence governments and manipulate global health decision-making,” he added.
“The WHA stands at the forefront of global health governance, entrusted with safeguarding policies that protect millions worldwide. Upholding transparency, independence, and public health principles is essential to ensure decisions remain free from industry influence–especially from the tobacco industry, whose interests are fundamentally at odds with Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC and WHA Resolution 54.18. Member States must remain vigilant against any form of commercial interference. WHA leadership must reflect the highest standards of integrity, as strong governance today is vital for a healthier, safer, and more equitable world tomorrow,“ said Daniel Dorado, Tobacco Campaign Director of Corporate Accountability.
“We must ensure that the leadership of the WHA embodies the highest standards of integrity and aligns with WHO’s mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable, aiming for a world where all people attain the highest possible level of health,” the advocates stated in their joint petition.
The 78th World Health Assembly is taking place from 19 to 27 May.
Contact Information:
Ms Val Bugnot, Media and Communications Manager, SEATCA
Email: val@seatca.org
Mobile: +63 917 312 4600
About SEATCA
SEATCA is a multi-sectoral non-governmental alliance promoting health and saving lives by assisting ASEAN countries to accelerate and effectively implement the tobacco control measures contained in the WHO FCTC. Acknowledged by governments, academic institutions, and civil society for its advancement of tobacco control in Southeast Asia, the WHO bestowed on SEATCA the World No Tobacco Day Award in 2004 and the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award in 2014. SEATCA is an accredited ASEAN entity and an official Observer to the WHO FCTC Conference of Parties.